A Tribute To Our Fallen Troops and all the Troops that ever served, all the troops injured, all the troops families and spouses. To all The Troops Still serving for are freedom. God Bless You All
Another of the Greatest Generation has gone to the great beyond. Sgt. Milan J. Zdrazil served his country proudly and with honor for many years.
Raised on a small farm outside of Silver Lake, Minnesota, as a young boy, he cultivated wheat, corn, and oats and raised chickens, hogs, and cattle for market and family use.
He entered the Civil Conservation Corps under Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Administration at age 18 training and working as a truck driver and cook. He was honorably discharged May 21, 1942 for "urgent and proper call" to join the Army Air Corp. He served two years in the Panama Canal Zone as a cook in the Coastal Artillery. After returning to the States he was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Ms. as a cook instructor. He was honorably discharged on November 2, 1945. He was in the Army Reserve and finally the Air Force Reserve until 1952. His certificate from the Army Air Forces read in part, " …the ties that bound us under stress of combat must not be broken in peace time. Together we share the responsibility for guarding our country in the air. We who stay will never forget the part you have played while in uniform. We know you will continue to play a comparable role as a civilian… as our ways part, let me wish Gods speed and thebest of luck on your road in life… Our gratitude and respect go with you. Commanding General of the Army Air Forces...”
He did continue to play a comparable role as a civilian. After a variety of jobs, he helped build many boats as a sheet metal worker, two of which he received a citation for: the USS Spruance (DD963) November 1973 and the Paul F. Foster (DD964) February 1974. This was at the Ingalls Shipyards in Pascagoula Mississippi where he later retired.
Milan J.Zdrazil was not only a great patriot and veteran, he was described by those who knew him best as a sweet and guileless man; a gentle soul who never raised his voice and was an anchor to his children, Gene and Kimberly -- always there with a smile and love. He always loved. There can be no greater commendation than this.
THE AIRMAN’S CREED
This is the Airman's promise to country and colleagues.
I AM AN AMERICAN AIRMAN. I AM A WARRIOR. I HAVE ANSWERED MY NATION'S CALL.
I AM AN AMERICAN AIRMAN. MY MISSION IS TO FLY, FIGHT, AND WIN. I AM FAITHFUL TO A PROUD HERITAGE, A TRADITION OF HONOR, AND A LEGACY OF VALOR.
I AM AN AMERICAN AIRMAN, GUARDIAN OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE, MY NATION'S SWORD AND SHIELD, ITS SENTRY AND AVENGER. I DEFEND MY COUNTRY WITH MY LIFE.
I AM AN AMERICAN AIRMAN: WINGMAN, LEADER, WARRIOR. I WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AIRMAN BEHIND, I WILL NEVER FALTER, AND I WILL NOT FAIL.
He and 4 other soldiers were killed in Mosul Iraq on 4/10/09 by a suicide bomber with a truck load of explosives. These men gave their lives in order that we all might live free.
The group is made in honor of SSG Gary Lee Woods, Jr. by his parents - Becky Manning Woods Johnson & Gary Woods. We also included all of his sisters and brothers and Grandmother, Nancy Ratliff and his 2 stepparents Pat Johnson and Debbie Woods.
Group Description:
This is a group in memory of our son, brother and grandson, SSG Gary Lee Woods, Jr. He and 4 other soldiers were killed in Mosul Iraq on 4/10/09 by a suicide bomber with a truck load of explosives. These men gave their lives in order that we all might live free. Please join this group for our son and all the other fallen soldiers.
CNN's investigation of the "96-hour rule." Under the rule, NATO troops have 96 hours to either turn over detainees to Afghan authorities
U.S. reviews '96-hour' rule for detainees
By Abbie Boudreau and Scott Zamost, CNN Special Investigations Unit
February 18, 2010 7:13 p.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Roger Hill, a former Army captain, was discharged after a mock execution of Afghan detainees
NATO has 96-hour rule for detention of suspects
U.S. military is reviewing policy; some say suspects get released too soon
The full investigation on AC 360 tonight at 10 p.m. ET
The case of Roger Hill, a former Army captain who received a general discharge for his role in the questioning of 12 Afghan detainees, prompted CNN's investigation of what's known as the "96-hour rule." Under the rule, NATO troops have 96 hours to either turn over detainees to Afghan authorities or release them - a rule put in effect to avoid Abu Ghraib-like offenses. But now that rule is under review by U.S. Defense Department officials, a spokesman for the department told CNN.
Soldiers interviewed by CNN said it could put them in danger because it forces them to release detainees in a short time span. For Hill, the 96-hour countdown began when he took 12 men he suspected were possible spies to a small building on the base.
(CNN) -- A controversial policy that limits the amount of time NATO troops can hold Afghan detainees is under review by U.S. Defense Department officials, a spokesman for the department told CNN.
The review of what's known as the "96-hour rule" is under way as CNN questioned whether the policy was putting soldiers in danger. Under the rule, NATO troops have 96 hours to either turn over detainees to Afghan authorities or release them -- a rule put in effect to avoid Abu Ghraib-like offenses.Read full story
At the 96th Hour
By Abbie Boudreau
CNN Special Investigations Unit
The more I learn about NATO’s 96-hour detainee rule, the more I wonder why military commanders and NATO politicians created it in the first place.
What I heard from nearly everyone I interviewed for this story is that the rule was developed in response to the scandal at Abu Ghraib prison. The world was watching, and no one wanted another humiliating display of detainee abuse. There had to be stricter rules when it came to detaining the enemy and there had to be a time limit on how long a suspect could be held. So, a small group of people agreed that 96 hours – or four days – was the magic number.
Nearly half of U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan are not operating under the U.S. military, but they are assigned to NATO. That means, nearly half of U.S. troops in Afghanistan are following NATO’s 96-hour rule. The soldiers we’ve interviewed say this rule caters to the enemy, and puts soldiers lives at risk. One former commander told me he would instruct his soldiers to “not bother” detaining the enemy anymore, because the 96-hour rule made it too difficult to keep someone locked up.
From the moment a soldier captures a suspect, the clock begins to tick. They have 96 hours to gather enough evidence to hand over to the Afghans, so that Afghan authorities can detain the suspects and do what they want with them. If the Afghans decide they don’t want to detain the suspect, the NATO soldiers have no other choice, but to release them.
We’ve talked to military experts, soldiers, former commanders on the ground, even people who helped implement this rule, and they all say the enemy knows about the time constraints, so they are trained to keep quiet for the 96 hours they are detained so soldiers will be forced to release them. How does this strategy make sense? How could anyone expect soldiers – who remember, are not trained to be police officers or criminal investigators – to gather all of the required evidence to lock someone up in just 96 hours? We certainly do not hold prosecutors to these strict time restrictions when they are building their case.
I have one very simple question for you: Do you think soldiers should risk their lives to detain the enemy under the 96-hour rule?
If you are a soldier the help is here for you. You do not have to suffer this there is help.
If you know a Soldier please let them know there is help.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 830,000 Vietnam War veterans suffered symptoms of PTSD.
Four out of five reported recent symptoms when interviewed 20–25 years after Vietnam.
Today's Veterans are even more susceptible with the type of warfare they face.
High rates of PTSD in Iraq War veterans are being seen, as well as a number of other difficulties, including alcohol and drug use, and depression. This may not be too surprising to read as the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are in the news everyday, as are reports of their effect on the mental health of the men and women serving there. A majority of service members in Iraq and Afghanistan have encountered traumatic experiences and high rates of PTSD and other difficulties have been found.
Medal of Honor Recipients Tommy Norris, US Navy SEALS and Mike Thornton, Petty Officer, US Navy SEALS encourage Service members to get the help they need and deserve.
Medal of Honor Recipient Paul Bud Bucha Captain, US Army,
Medal of Honor Recipient Jack Jacobs Captain, US Army
Medal of Honor Recipient James Fleming Captain, US Air Force
Combat Troops in Iraq talk about PTSD
The time to act is NOW. The number of veterans returning from war with PTSD, depression, and those who committed suicide are growing every year. These are dismal facts, yet display the urgency of action. Join me in becoming a citizen cosponsor of this important legislation and show Congress that veterans shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get the benefits they have earned.
Sign this petition below then pass it one. Once you have done that call your Congressman and ask them why they are not trying to bring this to a vote.
Cognitive Processing Therapy: CPT has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments for PTSD. For this reason, the VA's Office of Mental Health Services has rolled out a national therapist training program. VA therapists throughout the country will be trained in how to use CPT treatment. These therapists will also consult with CPT experts to learn how to best provide this therapy. Then they will be asked to use CPT in their routine clinical care.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
After a traumatic event, many individuals experience distress and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This distress may be highest when dealing with memories, thoughts, feelings, and situations that are related to the trauma. Exposure therapy is a type of therapy that helps you decrease distress about your trauma. This therapy works by helping you approach trauma-related thoughts, feelings, and situations that you have been avoiding due to the distress they cause. Repeated exposure to these thoughts, feelings, and situations helps reduce the power they have to cause distress.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) is one exposure therapy that works for many people who have experienced trauma. It has four main parts:
PE starts with education about the treatment. You will learn as well about common trauma reactions and PTSD. Education allows you to learn more about your symptoms. It also helps you understand the goals of the treatment. This education provides the basis for the next sessions.
Breathing retraining is a skill that helps you relax. When people become anxious or scared, their breathing often changes. Learning how to control your breathing can help in the short-term to manage immediate distress.
Exposure practice with real-world situations is called in vivo exposure. You practice approaching situations that are safe but which you may have been avoiding because they are related to the trauma. An example would be a Veteran who avoids driving since he experienced a roadside bomb while deployed. In the same way, a sexual trauma survivor may avoid getting close to others. This type of exposure practice helps your trauma-related distress to lessen over time. When distress goes down, you can gain more control over your life.
Talking about your trauma memory over and over with your therapist is called imaginal exposure. Talking through the trauma will help you get more control of your thoughts and feelings about the trauma. You will learn that you do not have to be afraid of your memories. This may be hard at first and it might seem strange to think about stressful things on purpose. Many people feel better over time, though, as they do this. Talking through the trauma helps you make sense of what happened and have fewer negative thoughts about the trauma.
With the help of your therapist, you can change how you react to stressful memories. In PE, you work with your therapist to approach trauma-related situations and memories at a comfortable pace. Usually, you start with things that are less distressing and move towards things that are more distressing. A round of PE therapy most often involves meeting alone with a therapist for about 8 to 15 sessions. Most therapy sessions last 90 minutes.
With time and practice, you will be able to see that you can master stressful situations. The goal is that YOU, not your memories, can control what you do in your life and how you feel. Therapy helps you to get your life back after you have been through a trauma.
PE therapy for Veterans
PE has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments for PTSD. For this reason, the VA's Office of Mental Health Services has rolled out a national PE training program. VA providers throughout the country will be trained in how to use PE treatment. The providers will at first be supervised as they use these treatments in actual cases. Then they will be asked to use PE in their routine clinical care. Others will be selected and trained as consultants.
How can I get help?
Ask your VA healthcare provider about getting PE therapy. A list of VA facilities can be found online at: VA Facilities Locator
Lance Corporal Tom Neathway, British Armed Forces - BBC Documentary
BBC Documentary 2009
Lance Corporal Tom Neathway, 25, and Ranger Andy Allen, 19, were caught by improvised explosive devices, which have left 216 others dead and 265 seriously injured.
L-Cpl Neathway, of the Parachute Regiment, was on routine patrol in Kajaki when the device exploded with the force of a "full-on rugby tackle". He has had his left arm and his legs amputated. His story, and that of Ranger Allen, is being told in a BBC1 documentary.
For the first time, the Ministry Of Defence has allowed television cameras to follow the recovery and rehabilitation of severely injured soldiers returning from Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Tom Neathway, one of the subjects of the BBC One documentary Wounded, talks to BBC Press Information's Tony Matthews.
Tom Neathway was on a routine patrol in Kajaki, Helmand Province, when, as he puts it, his life took a different path. "We entered a compound to observe the Taliban," says Tom, a lance corporal in the Parachute Regiment. "We'd been into the compound before and had carried out all the correct procedures with the metal detectors to look for bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) – we found no metal signature whatsoever. I was on sniper cover and went to a hole in the corner of the wall through which I could observe and fire. There was a sandbag in the way and when I moved it the device detonated."
Tom likens the force of the explosion to a full-on rugby tackle. "It knocked me backwards and I realised straight away that my feet had been taken off," he says. "I still had my left arm, but it was badly damaged.
Tom Neathway was on a routine patrol in Kajaki, Helmand Province, when, as he puts it, his life took a different path
Tom Neathway receives his medal - Wounded - Parachute Regiment Medal Ceremony
Royal Irish Regiment Medal Ceremony - Andy Allen 19-year-old Royal Irish Ranger
"It must have been something new," he says, "the Taliban are as clever as hell and we knew the threat was there. Before that, they had used smaller anti-personnel mines and big IEDs with lots of metal content in, but they'd changed to material that the metal detectors won't pick up."
Like Tom Neathway, 19-year-old Royal Irish Ranger Andy Allen was in a critical condition when he arrived back at Birmingham's Selly Oak hospital, which handles all serious battlefield casualties. BBC One's documentary, Wounded, begins at the moment when Andy was blown up by an IED. Losing his right leg instantly, he sustained severe burns to his face and eyes. Once back in the UK, the hospital's joint military and NHS medical teams had to amputate his other leg in order to save his life.
Andy and Tom were among 65 British casualties seriously injured in Afghanistan during 2008. In an at times harrowing but ultimately inspirational film, Wounded tells the story of their fight for life, their eventual recovery and rehabilitation, and the effect it has on them and their families.
As their burns and plastic surgery consultant Lieutenant Colonel Steve Jeffrey explains in the film, it would be completely unnatural for any severely injured soldier not to be devastated. "One minute they're in Afghanistan, the next they're waking up and they haven't got legs, an arm or whatever," he says, "but I've noticed that those guys that are in a stable relationship seem to do better." For Andy, whose girlfriend, Natalie, was expecting their first child, the target is to get better in time for the arrival of their baby. Meanwhile, Tom's focus is on walking unaided on prosthetic legs in time to attend the medal ceremony at his regiment's homecoming parade. "I was six feet tall and 11 stone," he says, "now I'm four feet and eight stone, but I'm determined not to look like this... I'm not one to give up."
Having remained fully conscious after the explosion, Tom already knew how badly injured he was before he came out of sedation in Selly Oak Hospital. "I didn't realise that my left arm had been amputated and my legs were a hell of a lot shorter because of an infection," he says, "but, if anything, my mind was set on things being worse. I was a bit gutted for about 10 minutes, but there's nothing you can do, so I just focused on getting up as soon as I possibly could. I've not been devastated by it; my parents found it a hell of a lot worse than I have, but seeing how I've reacted they can't be down in the dumps whatsoever."
Andy's recovery was hampered by the damage to his sight, which in turn affected his ability to adjust to the loss of his legs. He admits on camera to being scared and reluctant to get on with his rehabilitation, while realising that it is his fastest route home. It takes eight months before his family and friends are eventually able to welcome him back to Belfast. A cataract operation gives him enough sight to help with mobility and see his baby son; it's a significant boost for a young man who faces a further two years in and out of the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey.
Tom's and Andy's paths cross at Headley Court, where they find a common bond among soldiers with similar injuries, such as Royal Marine Mark Ormrod who, like Tom, is a triple-amputee. "One of the things that got me through is being around guys in similar positions, like Mark Ormrod and Joe Townsend, who can talk me through things," says Tom. "They were there with me every day at Headley Court and are my closest mates now. They started their rehabilitation before me, and I could see what they were achieving and where I would be seven months down the line."
In turn, Tom and Mark now visit men returning to Selly Oak with serious injuries. "When they're lying in that bed, they think their lives have ended," Tom reflects, "but they haven't, they've literally just begun, it's just taken a different path. We tell it how it is, and they are shocked because I skydive and go skiing and we both drive stupid cars and crack on with life completely."
Now 25, Tom feels that age and experience is an important factor in the recovery process. "I've done Iraq twice, I've been to Northern Ireland, I've been blown-up previous to what happened in Afghanistan, I've lived life a bit more," he says. "Guys of 18 and 19 have less experience and it's hard for them, that's why it's good having guys like Mark and I around to show them that life doesn't end."
Tom, who comes from Worcester, now has a new job lined up in administration for the parachute school at RAF Brize Norton, and recently took some time off for a holiday in America. "I've been away sailing, fishing and water-skiing. It's an important part of rehabilitation," he says. "You need a break so that when you come back you're willing to crack on again. Mainly I do rehab under the NHS at Birmingham, but they've called me back to Headley Court for a couple of weeks to check on my legs, but I'm improving."
He describes the help and care that wounded soldiers receive as exceptional. "Everything has been 100 per cent," he says, "we couldn't have asked them to look after us any better." But was the recovery process made more difficult by the presence of a camera crew? "I wasn't keen at first," he admits, "but my friends and family thought it would be a good idea for the public to see what happens to the guys returning home injured. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.
"The camera crew are awesome and we're all friends now," he adds. "They were with me through the worst times and in my good times and I was able to talk to them. It actually became quite easy – an everyday thing that they were there."
Tom Neathway hopes that Wounded will give the public an insight into how young men with life-changing injuries can rebuild their lives. "You hear about the men getting killed, which should be shown, but it's only recently you've started to hear about the guys with injuries like mine and what we go through," he says. "I'm in my own house, I drive my own car, I've got a girlfriend and I'm back at work – if you didn't know you'd think I was just a normal everyday bloke."
While Andy's girlfriend, Natalie, stood by him, one of Tom's biggest worries, like many injured soldiers, was whether women would still be interested in him. "That knocked me a little bit at first," he says, "but I've got a good personality and chicks are great – they don't look at you for that sort of stuff, [the injuries] don't bother them and that boosted my confidence massively."
On reflection, does he regret going to Afghanistan and the direction his life has taken as a result? "I would definitely do it again," he says. "I never thought about being injured, if you thought like that you'd be scared of going. Up until I got injured I loved it out there. Without wishing to sound nasty, I liked getting into fights with the Taliban... it was exactly what I joined the Paras to do. You get a massive buzz from it and I wouldn't change it for anything."
And what about the public reaction; does he feel that the job the soldiers are doing is fully appreciated back home in the UK? "My personal opinion is that wounded soldiers should get more recognition, and that's only starting to come about now," he says. "The public are starting to realise that what we do needs to be supported. I get people stopping me in the street and asking what's happened and if I go to a bar I won't pay for a drink all night! I think people need to know, it doesn't bother me talking about it."
A local homeless organization is extending the stay for 22 veterans at a local hotel to keep them safe from the freezing temperatures outside. The National Veterans Homeless Support organization is paying about $20 a night for each of the twelve rooms occupied by homeless veterans at the Super 8 in Titusville.
The N.H.V.S. president and founder, George Taylor found the men in the woods, on the street, and at homeless encampments across Brevard County. To go out and find them out in the woods and bring them in, was a task.
One of the men staying at the Super 8 in Titusville is George Jones, someone most people don't want to be around. "I've got a bad attitude. I do not like most people," Jones said.
The Vietnam veteran is one hundred percent disabled after he suffered a brain injury in Vietnam. He takes psychotropic drugs and claims his only friend is a pit bull named Ranger. "You know he's my big baby. I've got someone. I've got that dog," Jones said.
But on a night when the temperature is expected to dip well below freezing, Jones and his fellow veterans have a warm room, food to eat, clothing, and toiletries. His dog also gets to stay in his room.
George Jones says he appreciates everyone who helped transform part of this hotel into a temporary homeless shelter. "It shows me there's hope. There is people out there who care about us."
Grateful Vietnam veteran who thought no one cared
Thanks to our community partners, leaders and volunteers who make the difference!
Disabled Iraqi children get wheelchairs, big smiles
720 pediatric wheelchairs valued at more than $2.5 million (retail) distributed thru Nov 2009
Brad Blauser, civilian contractor has vowed to try to make life a little easier for these families by organizing the distribution of wheelchairs, donated and paid for by his charity, Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids
As the US prepares for withdrawal from Iraq in 2010 and 2011, I'm hopeful the Iraqi Government will take over this great program to fund and manage a National Wheelchair Program providing pediatric wheelchairs to all children in Iraq who need one without charge through use of unspent budget surpluses.
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Mothers cradle children in their arms. Fathers smile softly at the helpless bodies they hold. Other parents are bent over from the weight of their teenage kids whose legs fall limp, almost touching the ground. In the absence of basic medical equipment, these parents do this every day.
Khaled is a father of three. On this day, his young daughter, Mariam, is getting fitted for her new wheelchair. Her arms and legs are painfully thin, little more than skin and bone. She's 7 years old, but looks barely half that. She and both her siblings, a sister and brother, suffer from varying degrees of polio. None of them can walk.Asked how he and his family cope, Khaled chokes up, fighting back tears."I am sick of life -- what can I say to you?" he says after a long pause.
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Khaled is a father of three. On this day, his young daughter, Mariam, is getting fitted for her new wheelchair. Her arms and legs are painfully thin, little more than skin and bone. She's 7 years old, but looks barely half that. She and both her siblings, a sister and brother, suffer from varying degrees of polio. None of them can walk.Asked how he and his family cope, Khaled chokes up, fighting back tears.
"I am sick of life -- what can I say to you?" he says after a long pause.One man, Brad Blauser, has vowed to try to make life a little easier for these families by organizing the distribution of wheelchairs, donated and paid for by his charity, Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids. He first came to Iraq in 2004 as a civilian contractor. Struck by the abject chaos surrounding him and seeing helpless children scooting along the ground, he pledged to find a way to help.
His first step was to consult an Army medic to find out what hospitals really needed. "He surprised me with his answer about pediatric wheelchairs. We've got so many children out in the city that the ones who can get around are following their friends by dragging themselves around on the ground, which is heartbreaking to see," he says.
"I was surprised. It took me aback."
Enlisting the help of generous supporters and an Iraqi humanitarian group Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids was born in August of 2005. Thirty days later its first 31 chairs were delivered. To date more than 250 Iraqi families have received the wheelchairs.
Blauser has partnered with a nonprofit group called Reach Out and Care Wheels, which sells him the chairs at a manufacturing price of about $300.
The chairs are made by prisoners at the South Dakota State Penitentiary and ultimately delivered in Iraq by the U.S. military.
"Getting these prisoners involved, it just means the world to them," said Andrew Babcock, the executive director of Reach Out and Care Wheels. "Even the prisoners, I've been there and visited, and they're so excited. They come up with different design ideas and ways to make things better for the kids. They want to know where the chairs are going and what kids we're helping."
Blauser said it's unbelievable to be there when the chairs are delivered.
"The most affecting thing about this whole wheelchairs for children is when the parents realize the gift that is being given to their children and they reach out to hug you." he said. "The tears are running from their eyes and they say, 'We never thought that you could do this.' "
Blauser is helped on the Iraqi missions by the civil affairs division of the U.S. military, which helps organize the safe transport of the families to the distribution point and adjustment of the wheelchairs to fit each child.
He said it gives "the troops something when they go home, something good to remember where they know they have contributed, they know they have done a good thing."
Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Jurack agrees. "It brings a smile to your face. It really gives a different image to the Army as a whole -- helping people out, putting a smile on local nationals' faces, little kids that need our help."
It's a sentiment that is echoed by Samira Al-Ali, the head of the Iraqi group that finds the children in need. On this day, she tells the soldiers she hopes that this humanitarian act will give them a different image of Iraq, not one of a gun and war, she says. Her words are simple but effective.
"I wish the world would see with their own eyes the children of Iraq and help the children of Iraq, because the children of Iraq have been deprived of everything," she said. "Even a normal child has been deprived of their childhood; a disabled child and their family is dealing with so much more."
The children also show gratitude, even those who can scarcely move. Blauser remembers one boy's father who dressed him in a three-piece suit, with the trousers hanging off his motionless legs.
"He couldn't move his legs or his arms. But when we sat him in his chair, he gave us the thumbs up."
Iraqi parents will go to any lengths to improve the quality of their children's lives. Blauser points to one of his favorite photographs, of a father carrying his son in his arms, an endless desert road behind him. He had carried his son more than 6 miles to get a wheelchair. "In August 2006 we had a distribution in northern Iraq," Blauser remembered. "We watched him [the father] come forward, and people rushed to take the boy from his arms. And he said, 'No, I've been carrying this child all my life. I can carry him the last 100 yards to receive his wheelchair.
Boston holds a giant send off for Massachusetts troop deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
NBC 10 News
Jan. 4,2010
BOSTON—Boston held a send-off day for about 650 Massachusetts National Guard troops.
A ceremony Sunday was held in Boston for three military units being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for a year.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick was among those in attendance.
It’s one of the largest deployments of New England troops since President Barack Obama announced plans to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
This group includes one of the units is from Fall River, Milford and Worcester.
MISSION: "May no soldier go unloved. May no soldier walk alone. May no soldier be forgotten. Until they all come home."
Founder: March 2003 Patti Patton-Bader
Email: angels@SoldiersAngels.org
Our 250,000+ volunteer members in over 20 different teams and programs operate internationally to provide letters, care packages, and comfort items to the deployed, and support for their families here at home. We also provide assistance to the wounded, continuing support for veterans, remembrances and comfort for families of the fallen, and immediate response to unique difficulties.
Through special projects, dedicated teams and individuals supporting our troops, we make a visible difference in the lives of our service members and their families.
Teams and Programs
Adopt a Soldier - Individualized support throughout deployment
Angel Bakers - Homemade treats for the deployed
Blankets of Belief - Handcrafted support for the deployed
Blankets of Hope - Handcrafted comfort for the wounded
Cards Plus Team - Extra TLC for soldiers & families
Chaplain Support Team - Help chaplains support the troops
Eagle Cane Project - Handmade canes for the wounded
First Response Backpacks - Supplies for wounded in-country
Fisher House Team - Assistance for Fisher Houses & residents
Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet - Care for pets
Hero Flights - Emergency travel assistance
Hero Packs - Care packages
Holidays for Heroes - Holiday support and activities
Ladies of Liberty - Extra TLC for deployed females
Living Legends - Remembering the fallen and their families
Operation Outreach - Supporting families waiting at home
Operation Phone Home - Calling cards
Operation Top Knot - Handmade gifts & virtual baby showers
Portraits of Memory - Handpainted portraits of the fallen
Scarves - Handmade heat and sand protection
SOS:Kids - Helping deployed soldiers help local kids
What their missions are, and how they carry them out.
Sergeant Major Michael Hall International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Reports with raw footage of our soldiers.
VIDEO 1
ISAF Command Sergeant Major Michael Hall tells a story which illustrates the ISAF Vision for Counter-Insurgency operations.
VIDEO 2
ISAF Command Sergeant Major Michael Hall explains the importance of understanding the mission.
VIDEO 3
ISAF Command Sergeant Major Michael Hall defines the concept of winning the "hearts and minds" of the Afghan people.
VIDEO 4
ISAF Command Sergeant Major Michael Hall talks about partnering with Afghan National Security Forces as the key to successful counter-insurgency operations.
VIDEO 5
ISAF Command Sergeant Major Michael Hall explains how protecting the Afghan people is the goal of counter-insurgency operations.
VIDEO 6
ISAF Command Sergeant Major Michael Hall explains how protecting the Afghan people is the goal of counter-insurgency operations.
"Kathie Briggs asked me to write a song especially for Kelsey. Kathie told me, "I can't tell you what to say in the song, but I'll know it when I see it." I emailed her several ideas; she would send responses such as, "keep working on it..." One day, when I had emailed her the idea that Lance was fighting for the red, white, and blue and Kelsey is fighting for the black and blue, Kathie's excited email response was, "Don't stop!!! You're hitting the nail on the head!!!" Kathie worked with me on every single word of this song, so I felt it only appropriate to list her as co-writer on the copyright. I've often struggled with the titles to my songs; I remember as a teenager asking my Mom to help me "name this song." For lack of a better idea, I had called this new song "Lance and Kelsey's Song". Last winter, Kathie asked me what I thought of calling it, "A Soldier's Child (Lance and Kelsey's Story)", which I felt was perfect! Kathie Briggs, thank you for working with me on this project. I hope that this song promotes patriotism and I pray that it is a positive influence in our work to prevent other children's abuse."
has helped Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and their families The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund has helped Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and their families cope with the unexpected financial hardship that occurs when family members drop everything to be at the bedside of their injured or critically ill loved one.
The Need
When Marines, Sailors, and other military personnel assigned to Marine Forces, are injured or critically ill, their entire family shares the pain and burden of recovery. Normal life is put on hold, often times for weeks, months, or years, as loved ones travel great distances, at a moment’s notice, and stay at the bedside. They take leave from their jobs, often without pay, and incur additional expenses for childcare, lodging, travel, specialized equipment, and other necessities. Few families are prepared for the expenses they face. They need help, and they need it quickly. The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund was created to meet this need.
Mission
The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund provides financial assistance and quality of life solutions for Marines, Sailors and other military personnel assigned to Marine Forces, injured in post 9-11 combat, training, or with life threatening illnesses, and their families. Our fund provides relief for immediate financial needs that arise during hospitalization and recovery as well as perpetuating needs such as home modifications, customized transportation and specialized equipment.
Established in May 2004, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that has provided over 17,000 grants totaling over $34 million in assistance to our Nation's wounded and critically ill heroes and their families. Since our inception, our administrative and fundraising costs have averaged at 8%, well below the national average, and our fundraising expenses have averaged just 2 cents per dollar raised.
We have encountered countless families with incredible stories of hardship, perseverance, courage and hope. The Fund has been able to help these families in the spirit of the Marine Corps' motto: "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful), which is the foundation of our beliefs in "Serving those who preserve our freedom."
He did continue to play a comparable role as a civilian. After a variety of jobs, he helped build many boats as a sheet metal worker, two of which he received a citation for: the USS Spruance (DD963) November 1973 and the Paul F. Foster (DD964) February 1974. This was at the Ingalls Shipyards in Pascagoula Mississippi where he later retired.
